Trip to Imbak Canyon Day 2

DAY 2-Imbak Canyon Study Centre (ICSC)


We start our day in this beauty place with a morning tour in ICSC that build on 27 hectare of land.

This study centre provide all facilities for research purpose including research lab, conference room, accomodation, hostel etc.

 group of media & Petronas staff

Research Lab in ICSC

The tour led by Manager of Environment & Conservation, Yayasan Sabah Dr Yap Sau Wai ends around 9.30am. Finish with the tour, we proceed to visit Imbak Falls which located 1.5km from study centre.

The journey to the waterfall by 4WD took us around 5-10 minutes.

Imbak Watefall is a must visit attraction for those who come to ICCA. The waterfall is about 30m wide that formed by 750m carving of Sungai Imbak (River).

one with the pretty boy of Petronas Sabah

Imbak Falls -picture courtesy of Yayasan Sabah

We spent almost one hour for photo session in this particular area including do our work by interviewing the ranjers who led and guide us during the trip.

Then, we continue our visit to Big Belian Tree (huge Ironwood) that includes 100m of trekking. This giant tree is a 1,000 year old tree that stand tall at more than 250 feet. To measure diameter of this giant tree, it need around 6-7 people about my size to hugs the tree. We did try measure the tree by hugging it ourselves.

Once the tour to Belian Tree complete, we proceed with lunch at ICSC & pack our bag for overnight trip to Gunung Kuli Research Station that situated in the middle of the forest.

Our ride to the starting point of Gunung Kuli Research Station begun at 2pm and we arrive there around 3.30pm. It took us almost 2 hours from ICSC due to gravel road. Our car driver drove slowly around 30-50km/h.

When we almost reach the starting point, the convoy leader inform all the drivers to stop at certain point due to limited parking space down the hills. So, only 3-4 vehicles allowed to go down the hilly route.  They need to go up for several times to fetch and send us to the starting point.

The process to going up and down took times. So our trekking begun at 4pm for 2km. The trail ups and down the hill. We cross 3 small streams. Adidas kampung is a right shoes for trekking in Kuli Station. I didn't bought Adidas kampung so I just using my standard sport shoes for jogging.

Oh ya..my car driver advise me to stay in front or at the back when trekking to avoid leech (pacat). Dont stay in the middle. I think its a good advice since he was a ranjer in Danum Valley before. I'm not sue how its related..but since I try to stay at the front all the time, its work. No leech on my feet and body in this first day of trekking. The next day the leech climb up to my upper body and suck my blood till its full.

Although I'm not phobia with leech like how I traumatize with cockroach but I don't want to take a risk till its going up to my upper body.

Start trekking with big smile

Since I took the advice seriously, I stay at the front, I walk faster than other media friends. At that time, I told myself I want to arrive at the reseach station before dawn. I don't want trekking in the dark.

Good for us because all of us reach the station before dawn. Me and other 5 media friends were the first team to arrive. We reach Gunung Kuli Research Station around 5.30pm, after 1 hour 30 minutes of trekking.

After we arrive, we took a break for minutes before jump to the Kengkawat River to refresh ourselves with cold water. Our tiring body feel fresh after staying in the river for almost 30 minutes while waiting for last group to arrive.

Kengkawat River..less water sue to dry season

The best part after long journey of trekking

couldn't dive more for #mayakarinchallenge

The facilities in Gunung Kuli Research Station complete with proper accomodation in rooms, surau, dining hall and toilet.

We were informed only two research station in ICCA complete with proper accomodation while other 4 stations didn't have basic accomodation, just a shelter and hammock to sleep. At the moment Gunung Kuli and Batu Timbang research station have the basic facilities.

A power source in Kuli station is using generator that operate for few hours. They shut it down at 12.30pm so, we use our own torch or handphone light when go to the toilet in the middle of the night.

During room distribution, me and other 6 female media friends took a small accomodation while other female friends took the nearest accomodation next to dining hall. Our accomodation is a house with 3 bedrooms for 8 people with 1 shower & 1 toilet. It was 6pm when we started bring our back to the house. Power not yet on.

After rest and shower, all of us gathered at dinning hall waiting for dinner. It took sometimes for them cook the rice by using cooking gas. They try cook it with electrical rice cooker at first but energy power can't support the rice cooker.

While waiting for dinner, discussion on the next day trekking took place.

Due to exhausting and tiring journey to enter the research station, most of us don't have enough mental and physical strength to continue the trekking to Kuli Falls.

According to the ranjer, difficulty level of the trail to Kuli Falls is 3 out of 5. It take 3-4 hours of trekking for one way trip.

So, Yayasan Sabah and Petronas staff had tough job to decide whether or not we proceed to Kuli Falls when there is an option going to Maya Falls where the trail more easy and it take less than 1 hour to reach at the waterfall.

They named it Maya Fall when actress cum WWF ambassador Maya Karin took part in expedition and discover the waterfall in 2013.

After hours of discussion during dinner, the organizer YS-Petronas decided give 2 option for Kuli and Maya Falls. Voting session begin and only 10 out of 35 participants willing to go Kuli Falls.

For Kuli Fall, ranjer set cut off time at 11am and the trekking start at 7am sharp.

Which trail did I took? Kuli or Maya Fall? Read in my next entry on Imbak Canyon.